Pickproof cylinder lock



Nov. 30 1926.

C. W. LANPHERE PICKPROOF CYLINDER LOCK` Filed Dec. 18. 1923 i lNvENToR Ecuve w-ANPHERE Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

Unirse stares @LIVE XV. LANPHERE, 0F NEVI YRK. lil. Y.

. PICKPBOOF CYLNDER. LOCK.

Application led December 1S. 1923. Serial` No. 681,321.

This invention relates to cylinder locks and more particularly t-o acylinder lock of the pin-tumbler type.

An object of my invention is to provide a cylinder lock Which is simplein construction and incapable of being picked.

Another object ot my invention is to pro vide a cylinder lock having akey-plug which is capable oin movement along its axis to actuat-e thelock mechanism.

Another object ot my invention is to provide a cylinder lock of thepin-tumbler type with simple and edective means to prevent an actuationof the pin-tumblers Without the use of a specially formed key.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cylinder' lock having akeyfplug capable of movement only upon the insertion ot' a key ot theproper design..

A further object of my invention `is to provide a cylinder lock havingauxiliary tumblers mounted in the lock casing which normally engage thekey-plugto prevent movement thereof, but which, when disposed in anotherposition, permit tree movement of the key-plug.

A still furtherobject of my invention is to provide a cylinder lockhaving auxiliary tumblers which are adaptable for a lock having akey-plug which may be rotated or vvhich may be moved longitudinally toeiect the actuation of the lock mechanism.

Other objects of my invention will appear the description proceeds.

lt is Well known that through the artilice of thieves cylinder locks ofthe pin-tumbler type may be opened by what is known as picking7 thelook. In locks ofthis type the picking operation is often performed byinserting; a slender instrument into the key slot and movingr thepin-tumblers to posi tions which release the key-plug. At the same timethe key-plug is given a tivist `or rotary movement Which acts to bindand hold the picked tumblers against return movement and since it ispossible to produce a binding or what may be termed a lateral frictionalengagement bet-Ween the tumblers and the plug, the tumblers may be movedoneV after the other by means ot the picking instrument until thekey-plug is free to rotate with a consequent actuation of the lockmechanism. I

Many efforts have been made to provide a cylinderdock of the pin-tumblertype which is incapable of being picked, but such devices ot' thisnature of Which l am aware are either very complex or else they do notaccomplish the object t'or which they are intended.

n the lock which l have devised the casing` is provided with auxiliarytumblers having either lateral or longitudinal movement. These auxiliarytumblers are additional to the usual pin-tumblers, which in many of thecylinder locks in use today have a perpen dicular movement when the keycylinder is set with the key slot in a vertical position. Obviously ifthe cylinder is set at a diii'erent angle the tumblers would occupydiiierent positions than the one mentioned and move accordingly. I havedevised tumb-lers 1vhichmove in diii'ercnt directions and therefore haveto be actuated by a combination ot forces applied in differentdirections. It will thus be apparent that in the lock which I havedevised that it is practically impossible to upick it because the,auxiliary tum blers Whichare loosely fitted do not extend as 'far intothe key slot as the pin tumblers. lt the ani liary tumblers were rstpicked, vturningthe plug- 'could not hold them as theY closer fitted pintumblers pre vent sumci-ent movement of the plug. It the pin tumblerswere lirst picked and moved to the position necessary to permit a slightmovement ot the key plug to hold the pin tumblers, any attempt to reachthe short auxiliary tumblers With a straight pick would dislodge the pintumblers and prevent moving the key',7 plug. A right angle pick couldnot be used the alternate projections on the opposite sides ofthe keyslot Would prevent it.

The invention will be more iully nnderstood by reference to theaccompanyingv drawings, in which* Fig. l is a sectional view of acylinder lock embodying,- my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vieiv similar to l but hav ing a key inserted to rearrangethe tuml'ilers to permit a rotation ot the key-plug.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line III-IH in Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a detail vievv oit the key-plug; which carries thepin-tumblers.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the device with the slide cover removed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view or auxiliary tumbler.

of a rocking vit Y in the casing.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a spring which may be employed toactuate the roeking tumblers.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of' a lock having a key-plug which is Capableof longitudinal movement within its casing and which also shows therocking tumblers cooperating` therewith to prevent such longitudinalmovement.

Fig. 9 is a detail-view of the longitudinally movable key-plug.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line KLJ-X in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view ol a rockingtumbler which is employed inthe longitudinally movable key-plug form of cylinder' lock. f Y

My invention may be applied to any well known ormof pin-tumbler lock.The one shown vfor the purpose of illustrating lthe invention maycomprise a cylindrical shell or casing 12 having a lrey plug 13rotatably disposed therein. lThe casing is provided. with sockets 1e toreceive driver pins 15 and their actuating springs 16` The key-plug isalso provided with corresponding` sockets or apertures 17 communicatingwith a key slot 18 for the reception .ot pin tumblers 1,9. The driverpins and their actuating springs may be retained in the casing by anywell known means and in the lock which l have devised there may beemployed for vthis purpose a slide cover 2O which may snugly fit aslot20 in the casing 12. Y,

@ne or more annular grooves 21 may be formed in the plug and soVpositioned that when the plug is properly inserted into the casing agroove y21 vwill be disposechwhen desirable, between two pin tumblers.it one side of each groove a notch 22 is formed and a guard or what maybe termed a rocking or auxiliary tumbler 23 is pivoted in the' casingand normally positioned with its end 24 disposed in a notch 22. Eachrocking tumbler may be disposed 1n a transverse slot l25 in the casingand may be pivotally supported or hinged by means of a pin 26, which forillustrative purposes is shown integral with the rocking tumbler, onshelves 26 at the upper ends of the slots 25; A spring 27 may beprovided to normally retain the end 24: o t the tumbler 23 in the notch22, the spring being disposed ina transverse slot 2,7

The spring may be supported by means of shoulders 23 integral there'-with, which are adapted to rest onv shelves 23 at the lower ends oftheslots 27. The rocking tumblers are so disposed in their slots as to have.avrocking movement whichV is either in the direction ot thelongitudinal axis of theV casing or laterally, while the movement of thepin-tumblers may be such that they move in a direction which istra-nsverse to such anis. Y It Vis thus evident that the pin-tumblersand the rocking tumblers have movements which are in differentdirections.

lt will be noted that as shown in the drawing` a rocking tumbler may beprovided adjacent to each of a plurality of the pin tuniblers 19, theends ot' the rocking tuinblers projecting different distances into theplug, the notches being proportioned accordingly and so positioned inthe plug as to lie across the key slot13. hus a lrey13 having the properconi'iguration may be provided so that when it is inserted into the keyslot the portions or wards 2S on the key will engage with and move therocking tumblers in opposition to the springs 2T. rl`he key may beproperly shaped to also move the pin-tumblers in the usual manner and,consequently, the driver pins V15 to such positions as to allow a rotaryor other ,movement orn the plug 13. The rocking tumblers by reason ottheir Contact with the hey will then have been moved out of the notches22 and wil permit a movement of the plug because o the annular grooves21. The key may i e provided Awith suitably disposed notches so thatwhen turned with the plug no interference, will occur between the leyand the rocking tumblers, orthe key may be so disposed inthe plug thatthe bottom thereof will,when the lrey or plug is rotated, not interferewith the rocking tumblers.

My invention, as shown in Figs. 3 to 11, may include a pusher key plug13, va longi tudinal movement ot which may be employed for variouspurposes. As illustrated, the constructional details in themain aresimilar to the torinot' lock previously described, however, in adaptingthe rocking tumblers to the pusher key-plug type of cyl inder lock, lfind it desirable to 'modify the arrangement oiI these. members as w llas their operation and coaction with Vthe plug so as to secure thedesired result. To this end the rocking tumblers 23 are pivotallymounted in slots 25 in the casing 12 in such a manner that they may beswung` about hinges or pivots 26 transversely of the casing insteadofalong the axis ot the casing as in the loci; previously described. 'lnorder to provide for such a movement o l'the rocking tumblers theirlower ends 24 may be normally dis posed in notches or slots 31 extendingacross the keyfplug. The rocking tumblers may be retrained in thernotches by springs 27 which may be suitably disposed intransverse slots27 in the casing, thespringsbeing supported by shoulders 23 integraltherewith. The rocking tumblers in this device may be provided withshoulders or pins 26 which may engage shelves 26 in the upper ends ofthe slots in which the tumblers aredisposed.

Communicating with the notches 31 are slots 32 at right angles thereto,into which the ends 24 ot therocliing tumblers move upon the movementlongitudinally ot the lill lili) l tit) key-plug within the easing. lfnorder: to move the rocking taunl'ilersv transversely by engagement withthe key, the forward edge thereof for a portion or' its length, or thatedge facing the side of the key, may be provided with a rounded ordouble-bevel edge 33.

rlhe operation ot the lock `just described is as follows: Upon the`insertion ot' a key into the key-way, the end or" the key engages thesides of the rocking tumblers and pushes them into registry with thelongitudinal notch-es or slots 32. The continued forward movement o" thekey into the keyway raises the pin-tumblers into proper position so thatwhen the head of the key engages the end ot the key-plug` a forwardthrust upon the key will cause the key-plug to move longitudinallywithin the whereby the lock mechanism may be actuated. rihe depth ot thelongitudinal slots 32 may be such as to provide i'or the desiredlongitudinal movement of the key-plug. Although the longitudinallymovable keyplug is illust-rated as circular in cross-section, it isobvious that by reason of the movement which is imparted thereto it mayhe of other' desirable shapes, such as rectang'rlar, oval, etc.

rlhe return ot the key-plug to its initial position may be effected bymeans of aspring 3d which may be disposed in a transverse slot 35,suitably disposed in the casing. The lower end oi the spring may extendinto a transverse slot 36 in the key-plug so that when the latter ismoved longitudinally within the casing the spring will be placed undertension and when the pressure upon the key is removed the energy thusstored in the spring' will return theI plug to its initial position.

it desired the cylinder lock may be provided with the longitudinallymovable keyplug without employing the auxiliary tumblers. Furthermore acylinder-lock may be provided which employs the auxiliary tumblersalone.

Many modiiications of the invention described above will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art, but such as come within theterms ot the appended claims are considered as falling within the spiritand scope of my invention.

i/Vhat I claim is zl. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a casing, a key plugtherein, driver pins in said casing, said pins being normally positionedto prevent movement of said key plug, and supplemental means carried bysaid casing and movable at a different angle from said driver pins, saidpins being disposer adjacent said means and arranged to prevent accessto the same by a pick or other improper instrument.

2. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a casing, akey plug, locking members.For normally preventing movement oi said key plug, and a lock barcarried by said easing and terminally retained to prevent movement or'said key plug.

8. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a cas-- ing, a key plug, driver pinsnormal y positioned to prevent movement ii said ke plug, said driverpins being' movable by gagement with a special tool, and supplementalmembers carried by said casing, said driverpins being disposed inadvance or' said members, whereby picking oitl the lock is practicallyimpossible.

e. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a ing, a key plug therein, driver pinsnormally positioned to prevent movement of said key plug, said driverpins being movable by engagement with a special tool, and supplementalmembers'carried by said casing and comprising spring-actuated arms,whereby movement of said key plug except by said tool is renderedpractically impossible.

5. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a casing, a `key plug therein, driverpins normally positioned to prevent movement oi'V said key plug, saiddriver pins being movable by engagement "with a special tool. notches insaid key pluo' and guard members :sa carried by said casing tor en ringsaid said key notches to prevent moven'i-entoi plug' except by saidtool.

6. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a casing, a key plug therein, driversins normally positioned to prevent movement oiC said rey plug, saiddriver pinsbeing movable by en` gagement with a special tool, and guardmembers pivotally supported by said casing and engaging said key plug toprevent movement thereof except by means oit said tool.

7. A pin-tumbler lock comprising` a casing, a key plug therein, saidcasing having a plurality oit driver pins to normally prevent movementoi' said key plug relative to said casing, an instrument for actuatingsaid driver pins to permit relative movement ot said casing and said keyplug, and guard members pivotally carried by said casing and engagingsaid key plug, said members be ing operable by said instrument.

8. A pin-tumbler lock comprising a easing, a key plug therein, saidcasing having a plurality of driver pins to normally prevent movement ofsaid key plug relative to said casing, an instrument tor actuating saiddriver pins to permit relative movement ot' said Casing and said keyplug, notches in said key plug, guard members carried by said casing andhaving` portions thereof normally disposed in said notches and in thepath of operative movement of said instrument, and means upon saidinstrumentfor disengaging said guard members from said notches.

9. A cylinder lock comprising a casing and a key plug therein, saidcasing and plug having interlocking means for preventing movement ofsaid plug Within said casing7 a portion of said means being capa-ble ot'transverse movement from interlocking .engagement With said key plug inone direction and the other portion thereof carried by said casing andbeing capable oi transverse movement in another direction frominterlocking engagement with said key plug. i

10. A cylinder lock comprising a casing, a key plug movably mounted insaid casing,- driver means disposed vertically Within said casing andnormally engaging said key plug to prevent movement thereof andauiiliarymeans vertically disposed and supported by said casing, saidauxiliary means being .pol sitioned behind said driver means and movableat an angle with respect'tliereto7 Whereby picking of said lock ispractically impossible.

11. A cylinder lock having a `key plug, means carried by the casing ofsaid lock tor locking said plug from movement, said means having'portions thereof movable transversely with respect tovsaid plug andVportions movable in the arc ot a circle.

12. A cylinder lock comprising a casing and a key plug movably mountedin said casing, vand means for preventing longitudinal Vmovement ofsai-d plug Within said casing,

said means being mounted in said lcasing and capable of movementtransversely of said plug. n

13. A cylinder lock comprising casing and a key plug movably mounted insaid casing, means carried by sa'id casing and projecting therefrom intosaid plug for preventing movement thereof, a portion of said meansmovable in a path at substantially right angl-es With respect to thelongitudinal axis of said plug and -disengaging the plug completely topermit movement thereof and the remaining portion of said means movableinthe arc of a circle and remaining in entype having driver pins, apivotally mounted tumbler disposed between said driver pins and capableoiI amovement at different angle. than the pins.

1.7. A'lcck; of the pin-tumbler type having rocking tumblers engagingthe key plug in one position to prevent movement thereoia and whendisposed in another position permitting movement thereof.

18. A lock of he pin-tumbler type comprising a casing, a` key plugthereimand tumblers pivotally supported by said casing and engaging saidkey plug.

19. A lock comprising a casing,v a key plug in said casing, driver pinscarri-ed by said casing and normally engaging said key plug to preventmovement thereof,V pin tumblers carried by said plug and ceoperatingwith said driver pins, said key plug being longitudinally movableWithinsaid casing` when said driver pins are disposed in unlockedposition by a key of the proper configurition engaging said pintumblers.

In testimony whereof, l have hereuntoy subscribed my naine this 13 dayof Deceniber, 1923.

cLivE vv. LANPHERE.

